Editor’s note: Responses were edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
Gary Moore, DDS. Star Dental Institute (Colorado Springs, Colo.):
After 37 years in general practice and going through two recessions … I can say that this [potential] recession is likely going to be worse than the previous recessions for the following reasons:
1. DSO money will continue to market DSO practices very well and continue to grow and take market share.
2. More patients will have less private insurance coverage.
3. More patients will lose jobs and will go to cash basis and/or Medicaid type of insurance, limiting their access to full-mouth care.
4. More [dentists] will look to sell into DSOs as they are having trouble keeping up with increasing costs for payroll, supplies and facilities.
5. Poorly trained new graduates that have little to no experience in the dental world will make less money, and there will be more loan defaults.
6. Recessions always affect the dental industry in a negative way, except it forces the [dentist] to be more competitive.
7. The amount of government spending will never stop, and the economy will take years to recover.
